I wanted to take a few minutes of your time for one last post as your outgoing Chair of SAASC. It goes without saying that this was one of the strangest years on record. And, depending on where you are based, life is starting to return to something that feels more like normal. For those of you who graduated, congratulations! It may not be the best environment to find a job at the moment, but if you were working in 2008 like me, you know that it will improve. Just be patient and if you can, try not to settle for the first job that is offered if it isn’t quite what you were hoping for. I’m in the same position as many of you, trying to get my footing in the profession, and while I’m not quite used to the rejection letters, I believe my cover letter writing and interview skills are improving with each opportunity.
Besides the job search pep talk, I want to thank everyone who joined SAASC and all students and faculty who attended an SAASC event. The amount of participation we had this year goes to show how passionate, curious, and engaged we all are as students and emerging professionals. There is so much that we can contribute to the future of the information science profession, especially in terms of equity, diversity, and inclusion. It’s the dedication of our members that will be responsible for breaking down the walls and addressing the challenges that all information professionals face.
I especially want to thank all of the amazing SAASC board members for their contributions. It was a tough year for so many people, and the added challenges of COVID-19 forced some of our board members to resign to focus on both their own health and the health of their families. The SAASC board carried on and found wonderful people to help fill in the gaps as they occurred.
Everyone who participated in the SAASC board, outreach & visibility teams, and Archeota editorial team should be proud of everything we accomplished this past year. As part of our student charter with SAA, we are required to submit an annual report which details all of our activities for the year. You can read it here on the website. I think the cover sums it up pretty well, “A year of challenges. A year of accomplishments.”
As the 2020-2021 SAASC board prepares to transition roles and responsibilities to the new team, I want to wish them the best, and I’m excited to see how much more than can accomplish in a more normal year.
Finally, I want to congratulate my SAASC teammates who also graduated: Alyssa Key, Sabrina Holecko, and Samantha Hamilton. If you missed Samantha’s virtual convocation address, I highly recommend you check out the recording. She received the Ken Haycock Award for Exceptional Professional Promise and is well-deserved!
Enjoy your summer, even if you are taking classes! And for those of you starting your e-portfolio in the Fall, I highly recommend you check out the e-portfolio blog before the semester begins, and try to write up 1-2 competencies now. The blog has all the information you need to get started, and you will feel less stressed out once the semester begins.
If you are planning to attend the SAA Annual Conference August 2-6, please let us know! Or share your experience on our social media channels. Since the conference is once again virtual, registration for students is a bargain at $49 through July 23 ($69 after). I thoroughly enjoyed the sessions I viewed last year. This year, Sabrina, Samantha, and I are presenting a poster about our student chapter. Please check it out! We’d love your feedback.
And with that, I hand it off to you, Barbara. You’re gonna be a great Chair!
Best wishes to everyone,
Alison Quirion, MLIS
2020-2021 Chair, SJSU SAASC
Connect with me on LinkedIn!